Reversible reed for wind instruments



- Dc. 14, 1948. J. MILLER REVERSIBLE REED FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS Filed Dec. 24,. 1947 Patented Dec. 14, 1948 UNITEDsTATEs vPATENT OFFICE REVERSIBLE REED FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS v n Jules Miller, Atlantic city, N. J. Application December 24, 1947, Serial No. 793,577

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in reeds for wind instruments, such as theclarinet, saxophone and the like; andV has for an object to'provide a reed that will give from two to ten times the service of the conventional type. s f

One-of the rprincipal objects of the invention is to provide a reed that is reversible so that after a few hours of use by the player the reed may be removed, and, instead of being discarded on' account of being warped or bent towards the mouthpiece, `may -be reversed, that is, turned over and placed back on `the lay of the mouth` piece; and,'although it will take slightly more pressure by the lips of the'` player, it will operate well and will soon curl or bend back to its normal# position and still farther to an extreme, when it may again be reversed to its rst position and used until again necessary to reverse it.

Thus not only may the life of the reed be doubled, but it maybe reversed many times before it is found necessary to discard the same.

Another object ofthe invention is to make this reversible reed having two like -or exactly opposite faces sov that thereed may beclamped with either face downwardly and. then after becoming bent, rather than discarding it, it may be reversed and continued in use as above mentioned. I

' Still another principal object of the invention is to'provid'e a reed with a slight excess of material on its opposite faces near its `proximal end to add slight weight to the proximal or vibrating end of the reed to thus control orslightly dampen the vibrations.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a means for controlling the vibrations of the reed, but so construct the remainder of the reed that it may quickly be reversed in, position so that after it curls or bends in one direction, as towards the mouth-piece, it may be reversed so' that the reed will straighten out and again bend towards the mouth-piece.

Still another object of the invention is to, make a reed especially from reed cane with the two like faces ,and with the small protuberance of excess material near the proximal end so that an experienced player may produce more varied notes on the instrument.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain new and novel arrangements as will hereinafter be more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

Referring now to the drawings, showing a preferred embodiment,

Fig. 1 is a side view showing the mouth-piece, reed, and clamp or ligature for holding the reed in position,

Fig, 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-'2 of Fig; 1,

Fig. 3 is a side view ofthe reed showing how it appears afterseveral hours playing, and

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the reed reversed and ready to be placed on the mouthpiece. l

Referring now more particularly to the several views, and for the moment to Figs 1 and 2, there is shown the removable mouth-piece I of a wind musical instrument with the reed 2 clamped on the flat lay 3 of the mouth-piece I and the clamp 4 for tightly holding the reed 2 in position.

It will be understood that I may use any form of clamp or ring for holding the reed 2 in position. The mouth-piece I as illustrated is of the conventional type'an'd has the usual tapered wall 5 and an entrance opening 6 that terminates as at 1. The mouth-piece I is curved slightly downwardly as at 8 to allow for the vibrations of the reed 2.

Referring now more particularly to the gist of the invention, that is, the reversible reed 2, it

will be seen that it tapers from its proximal end 9 to its distal end I0, and is substantially two to five thousandthsofan inch (2/1000 to 5/1000) thick at its proximal end 9, and may be substantially ve thirty-seconds of an inch (5/32)l at its distal end I0.

s The upper surface I I'is identical with its undersurface I2, so that when clamped to the mouthpiece I, regardless of-which surface, that is Il or I2, is uppermost, the action will be exactly the same.

The reed 2 may be of several widths and the narrower size maybe used for clarinets while the wider -ones are for use for the base, tenor andy alto, and other saxophones.

By forming the reed 2 with the upper and lower surfaces I I and I2 identical, it will be seen that the reed 2 may be clamped to the mouth-piece I with either surface uppermost. This provides a. great advantage over the reeds now in service, as after a reed is used for several hours on a clarinet, the pressure from the lips of the player and the moisture from the lips will cause the reed to bend downwardly towards the mouthpiece I at its proximal end 9 and will curve to such an extent that in the ordinary form of reed it has to be discarded, and a new one substituted.

However, by making the reed reversible, that is, with both surfaces the same, as in the present instance, the reed may be used until such time as it curves or bends or warps downwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, and when it would otherwise become non-usable, the clamp 4 is removed from the mouth-piece l and the reed 2 simply reversed and again placed in position and held by the clamp 4; and, although it may take slightly more pressure from the llpsat the start, it will soon tenduto bend to its normal position and then again downwardly to an abnormal position, whence it may again be removed, reversed and placed back in the instrument.

Therefore, a reed when used in this manner, will give from two to ten times the service of the conventional or ordinary type of reed; now in use.

Also, as shown in the several views, I have further improved the ordinary reed by providing a means for affecting the notes in the lower register.k Furthermore, I have found thatthe excess material nearthel proximal. end will' also favorably aect the notes in the higher register as it addsv strengthto the reed whichis yheldwith what might be termed the shorter bite in ther mouth'.

for notes in` the-higher register. I have also found that by providing theV excess` material as shown, it permitsa player to obtain `variations in the-tones that are 4not possible with the conventional reed.

I produce this varying. eiect by providing a slightiexcess of material at the proximal end 9. to thus add aV slight additional weight to the vibrating end. When the -reed is formed I leavey the small convex portieriA i3 centrally of the reed, that is, `centrally transversely of the reed, and spaced a slight distance rearwardly from the proximal end Sand terminating as at the point I4 which is well forward of the rear wall 1.0i-

the opening in the mouthpiece l.

This convex additional` portion Nontheupper surface is repeated es at t5y on the-under-surface |2.-o the reed 2 so that this additional weight of material is the same onI both the surfacesV and` diametrically opposite each other.

These. excess materials or protuberances I3 andl are elongated in shape and areV slightly rounded, asmay be seen in the several views.

Itwill be understood that no two ree are. alike andthe vibrations of a reed formed inthlsmannerean even be changed by slightly sandpapering these protuberances'lS and l5, or excess material.

In this way, the balancing or golvernilnggweight' for. grading-themed 2Y may be i obtained. This excess. of material` i3. and l5 also, oi course, will .to

strengthen. the reed 2 somewhatatdts proximal endl. Also, it iswithin the provinceof the lnvention to have the protuberance on just one face` of the reed,` although I prefer the two, as illustrotted.

From the foregoing. it will be seen that ll. haver provided, first, a reed thatv may be usedfor a number of tlmes,..rather than being.v discarded Number after it becomes slightly warped or bent, so that the life of the reed is many times greater than that of the ordinary reed which has to be discarded after it becomes warped; and, secondly, by providing the slight excess material or weight at the proximal end of the reed, without in any way changing the rear portion of the reed, I can change the vibrations of the reed to produce varied notes, and this additional material may, if desired, be slightly rubbeddown with sand-paper or emery cloth to suit the musical or artistic temperament of the individual player.

Finally, the reeds, oi course, are preferably made `from reed cane; although it is possible that they might be cast from a plastic composition.

Hav-ing thus described my invention, what I claim. isnew and. desire to secure by Letters Patent 1'. A reversible reed for clarinet, saxophone and the like, tapering from its proximal to its distal end` and thesuriaceV contourv of ther two fils being identical.;

2.A Areversiblereed for 'clarinet saxophonemdc the-like', tapering. from substantially three tbm sandtlis of an inch (2l/1000?) atits proximaleim` to ve thirty-seconds of an inch (5'3") atm distal end, and the surface contour of the Wo faces being` identical,

3i, Areversime reed for `clarinet,esempl-ione and. the1 like, tapering from its proximal toitsvdist end'y the. surface contour of the two facesV beim. identical, and.` a small protuberancefoi additimi material on the opposite faces oil thewreednelt the proximal end; and. centrally located transnversely of the: reed toprovides; governingaeicok` for the vibrations.

4.. A reversible reed' for clarinet, saxophone and; the like, tapering. from-its proximolto its distlli end, andmeansnear they proximalLend o! than reed and centrally located transverselyv of Athlireei to provide a governing effect for the vibrational.

5.A A reversible. reed vfor clarinet, saxophone und. the like, havinglike-plane surfaces on its` opposite faces. with the exception of` additional cenilrdluw located-means provided near the proximal ont and: terminating` short of. one-helio!! the kmh* oi'- .the reed to thereby; provide a. governingemotx end thereof to provide a controlling` effect forth.'-

vibrations of the reed..

JULES Mlm REFERENCES CITED The' following references are of record ltr the ille: of. this. patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 2,069,784 Topor 9, im" 

